The much-awaited dream of getting a bypass that will connect Tathang village in Tsirang with the others is finally materialising. The construction of an almost 5-kilometre road which began last month is nearing its completion. The villagers had been requesting for a road since 2016. However, their requests were turned down due to environmental clearance issues and budget constraints.
Just shy of a few kilometres from the Tsirang-Wangdue Phodrang highway, Tathang village is home to some 50 people. The people here grow a variety of vegetables.
Somedays they carry their vegetables and other farm produce on their backs to the highway. On other days, they travel via Sergithang Gewog to reach the nearest highway in Burichhu, which takes around 2 hours.
This is expected to change once the ongoing road construction works are complete. The new road will be connected to Tashichooeling, popularly known as Burichhu along the Tsirang-Wangdue Phodrang highway.
“We have to travel 35 kilometres to reach the Tsirang-Wangdue Phodrang highway. We have to travel via Tsirang Toed and Sergithang Gewogs. So, taking our vegetables to markets is very difficult. Once the new road connects the highway, it won’t take us more than 20 minutes,” said Ratna Bdr. Kararia, a resident.
Man Dhoj Rai, a resident said, “the new bypass will help us market our farm products. Today, not many vegetable vendors visit our farms because of distance and high transportation charges. Even if they come here, they pay us very little.”
“Once the road connects to the highway, more people will return to our village. Today, due to the remoteness of our village, youth are reluctant to stay in our village. This will benefit us immensely,” said Ram Bdr. Rai, a resident.
The Tsirang Toed Gewog Administration is spending Nu 2 M to construct the road.
Tsirang Toed Gup Nanda Lal Kharel said, “at the moment, to sell vegetables worth Nu 500, farmers have to spend Nu 1000 on travelling. Apart from the people of Tathang, the road will also benefit all five chiwogs of Tsirang Toed Gewog. It will also benefit farmers of Pungtenchhu Gewog and Semjong Gewog.”
The road is expected to be ready and opened to the public by next month.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
